Cordle is a Human Factors Engineer at the Commander of the Atlantic Naval Surface Force (COMNAVSURFLANT) and a former Navy Lieutenant who has commanded two ships during his career. Even after taking off his uniform, he continues to devote his life to helping the Sailors. Today, he is an expert on crew endurance, surface vessel safety, and using circadian clock rotation to improve operational performance. His priority is to find the most human-friendly way for sailors to complete their missions.

George H.W. Bush’s Nuclear Reactor Division and Caudle will examine the use of the ship’s Circadian Watch Building to see what works, what needs to be improved, and how the surface and aviation communities interact with each other. I found what I could learn.

“This is about the Navy and making it better, George H.W. Bush, and you,” Caudle said. “Only you know how tired you are. Better sleep makes you a better sailor. It makes you a better person. It helps your physical and mental health.” As a leader, I have a level of responsibility to not run you out and throw you out, but that’s irresponsible.”

Caudle recounts his failed first attempt at the Circadian Watch Building when he was aboard George HW Bush (the command he was on board during his career). The biggest problem he had was the uneven distribution of entitlements between mealtimes and rotations.

“The other thing I didn’t do first was ask for input from the crew. I was a good idea elf,” Caudle said. “If the Scoutmaster says so, then so be it. It will never work, but I didn’t know that. So I learned to listen to people.”

Caudle notes that George H.W. Bush has added additional considerations as surface platforms with aviation and nuclear communities necessary to accomplish specific divisional missions supporting both ship and carrier strike group missions. He said that what is good for one community on board often affects another, so planning and teamwork are needed to balance the requirements. rice field.

George’s commanding officer, Captain David Tavis Pollard, said: HW bush. “The planning effort and commitment to work towards a sound solution for sailor and command performance is not easy.

Below decks, the nuclear community has long been known for helping aircraft carriers complete their missions. For George H.W. Bush, the Nuclear Reactors Division is responsible for the circadian-based oversight bill. Capt. and Lieutenant Jason DeBrock leading the division. The ship’s reactor training assistant, Kara Vansaith, works diligently with the rest of the team to create a schedule that revolves around sleep.

“This was a significant team effort and we were impressed not only with the work, but with the results,” said DeBlock. “We continue to make incremental changes here and there as there is always room for improvement, but the feedback we have received from sailors is that this is showing through their quality of life and the performance of the team.”

One of the biggest challenges to department schedules is mandatory training. To create a working surveillance bill for the crew, DeBlock and VanSice started the surveillance bill with a basic period of protected sleep, followed by scheduled meetings, and finally a surveillance bill. adjusted the time. After they implement the change, most sailors alternate one or two watches each day. This ensures that all surveillance teams are on board and prepared for the exercise.

“It was very exciting to have Dr. Cordle on board,” said VanSice. “His experience and interest in our innovative circadian rhythms are beneficial and paying ongoing dividends for our reactor crew.”

The Reactor Department also worked closely with the ship’s training and supply department leadership, and the Command Triad removed the remaining perimeter to carry out the plan.

“Your approach of taking a whiteboard and throwing out protected sleep as a building block is the exact opposite of what someone is saying in surface forces,” Caudle said. “I’ve been focused on watch billing, so it’s pretty cool to see it done that way.”

The biggest lesson for the ship as a whole was to listen to each other and question everything.

“Break the paradigm,” Caudle said. “We have meal times, etc. It doesn’t matter where you eat, whether it’s an officer or a non-commissioned officer. What’s a barrier because ‘that’s the way it’s been done’? It’s the most dangerous word in the Navy. ”

Embracing a culture of quality sleep in the Navy will lead to a more effective Navy and a more genuinely satisfied sailor.

As the flagship of a carrier strike group that maintains maritime stability and security to ensure access, deter aggression, and protect the interests of the United States, its allies, and partners, George H.W. Provides adjustable combat capabilities to national command.

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